Global Research Trends of Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolic Reprogramming: A Bibliometric and Visualization Analysis

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global public health crisis. Metabolic reprogramming alters cellular energy production and plays a key role in DM pathogenesis, yet a systematic overview of research trends, collaboration networks, and emerging frontiers in this field is lacking. This study performed a bibliometric analysis of 6,864 English-language articles and reviews published between 2016 and 2025, retrieved from Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Embase. The analytical workflow included: (1) annual publication trend analysis, (2) country/region and institutional collaboration mapping, (3) author and journal co-authorship and co-citation analysis, (4) reference co-citation and burst detection, and (5) keyword and topic trend analysis, using three bibliometric analysis tools. Annual publications remained below 800 from 2016 to 2024 but exceeded 1,000 in 2025, indicating rapid growth. China contributed the largest share of papers (50%) and accounted for many of the top institutions, yet centrality analysis showed that the United States and European countries still lead in academic influence and knowledge generation. The knowledge structure is built on three core foundations: insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial function. Emerging research focuses on gut microbiota, machine learning, and metabolic reprogramming. Keyword bursts and topic trend maps reveal a paradigm shift from static phenotype observation to dynamic, multi-omics-integrated systems medicine. To our knowledge, no prior bibliometric study has specifically focused on the intersection of DM and metabolic reprogramming; this study thus provides the first dedicated mapping of this field. While China dominates in publication volume, centrality metrics indicate room for stronger international collaboration and academic leadership. Future efforts should promote interdisciplinary cooperation and support basic-to-clinical translation. This study provides an objective reference for research management and strategic planning.